Why the Lions will be good in '12

     The Lions enter training camp this season coming off their first playoff appearance in over a decade.  They also are coming off of an impressive 10-win campaign just three years after the NFL's first ever 0-16 season.  So now the sky is the limit for the Lions, right?  Absolutely, although most Lions fans seem to think otherwise.
   
     Many fans fear that the Lions' decisions in the offseason will affect this team in a negative way.  The Lions weaknesses going in to the offseason were the secondary and the running game.

     The front office helped the running game by drafting OL Riley Reiff in the first round of the draft, but disappointed the fans by not getting a top cornerback or running back in the draft or free agency.  With those question marks, many fans question if the Lions will even have a winning season in 2012.


     I have just one word to say to all the doubters out there: Relax.


     Just because the organization did not fill the needs you all desperately wanted them to get, the team will still be good.  

Stafford, Lions look to continue their success
of last season.

     They have the stars that can carry the team in Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and Ndamukong Suh with a good supporting cast to be good.  So it is not the end of the world the Lions drafted Riley Reiff rather than trading up for cornerbacks Dre Kirkpatrick or Stephon Gilmore, or that they stunned and angered the fanbase by drafting wide receiver Ryan Broyles rather than a corner or running backs such as Lamicheal James.  Nor is it bad that they weren't aggressive at all in free agency and just resigned all of their own players.


     The fact of the matter is is that general manager Martin Mayhew and the rest of the front office had the right plan and made the right decisions. 


     Injury concerns with running back Jahvid Best and Broyles, the uncertainty of defensive end Cliff Avril's contract status and whether he will hold out, along with the release of corner Aaron Berry due to offseason arrests just seem to fuel that fire that the fans have lit. In fact, the questions have led to fans believing the team won't even have a winning record.  


     There are many questions that the Lions need to answer, but it doesn't change the fact that the team is good.  The running game will have a boost with Reiff upgrading the offensive line, and the secondary was exposed by poor play by the defensive line, which was very unexpected last season.  Avril should be signed shortly, but even though he is an important cog to the defense, there are other players on the line that are due for breakout seasons.

     The Lions, along with the other 31 teams in the NFL, have holes, but does that mean those holes will affect the 2012?  NO.  The Lions were successful in the 2011 without much of a running game and a suspect secondary, and adding more talent in the mix helps the Lions even more.

     Fans need to look past the holes and question marks on the team and realize that Detroit fans finally have a good professional football team to cheer for, but there is one question needed to answer immediately:

     ARE YOU READY FOR SOME FOOTBALL?!